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The Mahdi in Sunni Hadiths 1

October 29, 2007 — Eagle

We have talked a lot about many beliefs of Shia Muslims, with at least some Sunni beliefs mixed in. In this post I want to write what some have said are the Sunni hadiths in regards to the Mahdi. I say, “what some have said”, for a reason, since I found numerous beliefs in regards to Shiites, I didn’t want to say that “this is for sure”, in Sunni beliefs. It should be also noted that it appears that it was a Shia Muslims who wrote the article, as you can see from the first sentence.

In spite of the most unfavorable conditions under the Umayyads and the `Abbasids, whose politics and oppressive governments did not allow the discussion or the spread of hadith about wilayat and imamat and the ahl al-bayt or their being recorded in the books of the hadith, they are not completely void of any traditions on the subject of the Mahdi.For example, the following:

‘Abd Allah reports from the Prophet, who said:

“The world will not come to pass until a man from among my family, whose name will be my name, rules over the Arabs.”

Tirmidhi has recorded this hadith in his Sahih and comments:

“This hadith on the Mahdi is reliable, and has been related by ‘Ali b. Abi Talib, Abu Sa’id, Umm Salma and Abu Hurayra”:

‘Ali b. Abi Talib has narrated from the Prophet, who said:

“Even if there remains only a day on earth, God will bring forth a man from my progeny so that he will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with tyranny.”

In another hadith Umm Salma narrates that she heard the Prophet say:

“The promised Mahdi will be among my progeny, among the descendants of Fatima.”

Abu Sa’id al-Khudari says:

The Prophet said: “Our Mahdi will have a broad forehead and a pointed nose. He will fill the earth with justice as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He will rule for seven years.”((don’t jump the gun here, we will get to it))

‘Ali b. Abi Talib has related a tradition from the Prophet who informed him:

The promised Mahdi will be among my family. God will make the provisions for his emergence within a single night.

Abu Sa’id al-Khudari has related a tradition from the Prophet who declared:

The earth will be filled with injustice and corruption. At that time, a man from among my progeny will rise and will rule for seven or nine years and will fill the earth with justice and equity. ((there’s that 7 year thing again, which we will get too))

Greater detail is provided in another hadith reported by Abu Sa’id al-Khudari. In this tradition the Prophet said:

Severe calamity from the direction of their ruler will befall my people during the Last Days. It will be a calamity which, in severity, shall be unprecedented. It will be so violent that the earth with injustice and corruption will shrivel for its inhabitants. The believers will not find refuge from oppression. At that time God will send a man from my family to fill the earth with justice and equity just as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. The dwellers of the heavens and the earth will be pleased with him. The earth will bring forth all that grows for him, and the heavens will pour down rains in abundance. He will live among the people for seven or nine years. From all the good that God will bestow on the inhabitants of the earth, the dead will wish to come to life again.

There are numerous traditions that convey these meanings.

Sahihs Of Moslem and bukhari

To be sure, the Sahihs of Muslim and Bukhari, whose authority is accepted by all the Sunnis, are not completely devoid of traditions about the Mahdi, although the term mahdi has not been used to express this belief among Muslims. Following is one such hadith:

It is reported from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet said: “What will be your reaction when the son of Mary descends and your Imam is among yourselves?”

There are a number of other traditions on a similar theme in these two compilations. It is also important to bear in mind that Ibn Khaldun has neither totally falsified all the traditions about the Mahdi, nor has he claimed that he does not accept them. The context of Ibn Khaldun’s remark about these traditions is provided by his opening statement in this section when he says:

It has been well known (and generally accepted) by all Muslims in every epoch, that at the end of time a man from the family (of the Prophet) will without fail make his appearance, who will strengthen Islam and make justice triumph. Muslims will follow him, and he will gain domination over the Muslim realm. He will be called the Mahdi.

It is evident that he has briefly accepted the fact that the belief in the awaited Mahdi is common among Muslims. Moreover, after his critical evaluation of the traditions and their transmitters he concludes the discussion with the following observation:

This is the situation of the traditions about the awaited Mahdi. It has been seen in the books that, with the exception of very few, most of these traditions are regarded as unreliable.

Hence, even at this point he has not rejected all the traditions on the subject. Rather, as he confesses, some of them are authentic.

Furthermore, it is relevant to point out that the traditions on the subject of the Mahdi are not confined only to those mentioned and critically evaluated by Ibn Khaldun. Quite to the contrary, most of the books on hadith, both by the Sunnis and the Shi`ites, narrate traditions in an unbroken chain of transmission which actually comes close to their verification as being credible. Had Ibn Khaldun known about the existence of all these traditions, he would have probably regarded the belief in the Mahdi as deeply rooted in the Islamic revelation.

To conclude this discussion, we can say that it is incorrect to maintain, as some scholars do, that Ibn Khaldun rejected the tradition about the Mahdi. On the contrary, it is these authors who have read into Ibn Khaldun such an opinion.

Since even writing using code, is not showing the right quotes and unquotes, here is where the quotes end, they will begin again after the next sentence.

I stole this comment from somebody elses blog. It does a good job of breaking down the differences of opinion.

A minor point of clarification is warranted here concerning Shi’ite Islam. Shi’a is Arabic for “party”, and here it refers to the party of followers of ‘Ali. ‘Ali was the 4th Caliph after Muhammad ruled 656-661 AD, and he was related to the Prophet both as a cousin and then as the son-in-law of the Prophet. He was assassinated in 661. ‘Ali is regarded by the Shi’a as the rightful successor to the Prophet (meaning the three intervening caliphs were not regarded as true leaders of the community).

The Shi’a are distinguished from the majority of Muslims (i.e. 90% of the world of Islam is Sunni; about 8% are Shi’a) over the question of succession re ‘Ali, and on quesions of law and authority. Where Suni and Shi’a differ in law covers matters about marriage and inheritance rights; in matters of ritual the Shi’a have a slight difference in their Call to Prayer. In authority they have a political view of the Imam as head or leader that differs from Sunni views of the Caliphate.

Now Shi’a Islam is not uniform but consists of three main branches.

1. The Ithna ‘Asharis or Twelver Shi’ites (you have referred to above).
2. The Isma’ilis (acknowledge seven early Imams).
3. The Zaydis (Zaydiyya).

The Ithna ‘Asharis – those committed to the Twelve Imams – are those found primarily in Iran and 50% of the population of Iraq.

The Zaydis are largely found in the Yemen. The Isma’ilis are present in many places but especially in East Africa, and throughout the Indian subcontinent.

Both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims have an eschatology related to the Mahdi (“one who is rightly guided”). However the Shi’a position is connected with their understanding of the hidden twelfth Imam who is to return.

It should also be noted (separate to the Shi’a view of the Mahdi) that Jesus (known as ‘Isa) is viewed in early eschatological hadiths as the one who will return at the end of time to oppose the antiChrist figure al-Dajjal (Father of Lies). There are a few suras that also imply a 2nd coming at the end (Surah 4:159; 19:33)

Again, quotes end here.

As I have said, most Sunni’s and Shia’s disagree on who is correct. Some are violent about their disagreement, as we have seen. Below is a collection of Hadith’s, which talk about, or prophesied of, the Mahdi. If I repeat myself, I’m sorry, I’m just trying to get it all in.

I would suggest that if you don’t understand a word you can go to Wikipedia, or you can try here. In addition to that, you can go here and here to get a list of different translations of different verses of the Quran.

One of the things I have seen, which drives me nuts, is fifteen different names for the same person or thing. I don’t understand why, when talking about a certain person or subject they can’t all get on the same page and use the most common name for the subject or person at hand.

I will leave it to the Muslim readers to determine if these are in line with Sunni beliefs, Shiite beliefs or both. Unless other wise noted, each Hadith/statement, is listed as the person giving the Hadith, that prophet Mohammad said it. Did that make any sense??

The world will not come to pass until a man from among my family, whose name will be my name, rules over the Arabs. (Tirmidhi Sahih, Vol. 9, P. 74; Abu Dawud, Sahih, Vol. 5, P. 207; also narrated by Ali b. Abi Talib, Abu Sa’id, Umm Salma, Abu Hurayra) Hadhrat Abdullah bin Masoodreports from the Prophet.

Allah will bring out from concealment al-Mahdi from my family and just before the day of Judgment; even if only one day were to remain in the life of the world, and he will spread on this earth justice and equity and will eradicate tyranny and oppression. (Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Vol. 1, P. 99) Said Muhammad

Even if only a day remains for Qiyamah to come, yet Allah will surely send a man from my family who will fill this world with such justice and fairness, just as it initially was filled with oppression. (Abu Dawood) Hadhrat Ali

The promised Mahdi will be among my family. God will make the provisions for his emergence within a single night. (Ibn Majah, Sahih, Vol. 2, P. 519) Ali b. Abi Talib

The Mahdi will be of my family, of the descendants of Fatima (the Prophet’s daughter). (Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Tradition No. 4086) Muhammad

Al-Mahdi is one of us, the members of the household (Ahlul-Bayt). (Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Tradition No. 4085)

Our Mahdi will have a broad forehead and a pointed (prominent) nose. He will fill the earth with justice as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He will rule for seven years. (Abu Dawud, Sahih, Vol. 2, p. 208; Fusul al-muhimma, p. 275) Abu Sa’id al-Khudari ((I found this one interesting, since Christians have their own 7 year period, which we will get into.))

Al Mahdi will be from my progeny. His forehead will be broad and his nose will be high. He will fill the world with justice and fairness at a time when the world will be filled with oppression. He will rule for seven years. Hadhrat Abu Saeed KhudriAfter the death of a Ruler there will be some dispute between the people. At that time a citizen of Madina will flee (from Madina) and go to Makkah. While in Makkah, certain people will approach him between Hajrul Aswad and Maqaame Ibraheem, and forcefully pledge their allegiance to him.

Thereafter a huge army will proceed from Syria to attack him but when they will be at Baida, which is between Makkah and Madina, they will be swallowed into the ground.

On seeing this, the Abdaals of Shaam as well as large numbers of people from Iraq will come to him and pledge their allegiance to him. Then a person from the Quraish, whose uncle will be from the Bani Kalb tribe will send an army to attack him, only to be overpowered, by the will of Allah. This (defeated) army will be that of the Bani Kalb. Unfortunate indeed is he who does not receive a share from the booty of the Kalb. This person (Imam Mahdi) will distribute the spoils of war after the battle. He will lead the people according to the Sunnat and during his reign Islam will spread throughout the world. He will remain till seven years (since his emergence). He will pass away and the Muslims will perform his Janazah salaat. (AbuDawood) HadhratUmmeSalmah

A group of my Ummah will fight for the truth until near the day of judgment when Jesus, the son of Marry, will descend, and the leader of them will ask him to lead the prayer, but Jesus declines, saying: “No, Verily, among you Allah has made leaders for others and He has bestowed his bounty upon them. (Sahih Muslim)

What would be your situation if the Son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends upon you and your Imam is from among you? (Bukhari, kitabul-Anbiya, Chapter Nuzul Isa bin Maryam)

I read that these were widely accepted amongst Muslims, I won’t go that far, because I don’t know if all sects believe these, remember Shia have different Hadiths than Sunni. Again I would ask my Muslim readers to answer that for us. Actually you guys are falling down on the job, I have asked numerous questions and with the exception of a couple on my other blog, I’m not getting much. And I know that at I have Muslim readers on at least one of my blogs, you know who you are, can you help me out here please .

Since this post is getting long, tomorrow (or the day after) I will put up the Hadiths that are in question. I will also put up the ones that say in effect, I heard it from a guy who was a friend of a companion of the prophet Muhammad, or something to that effect. As I said, not everything is given the same weight. And, as you have noticed there are repeats here, the same as there are repeats within the Gospels.

Oh, and I want to apologize for those of you who are attempting to pluck out your eyes at the sight of the above photo but it is halloween after all .

3 Responses to “The Mahdi in Sunni Hadiths 1”

“There are a few suras that also imply a 2nd coming at the end (Surah 4:159; 19:33)”

God said: “O Jesus, I will let you die, and raise you to Me, and cleanse you of those who have rejected, and make those who have followed you above those who rejected until the Day of Resurrection; then to Me is your return so I will judge between all of you in what it was that you disputed.” 3:55

The Qur’anic verses about Jesus show that God had promised to cause him to die a natural death, then exalt him and save him from the mischief of the disbelievers and this promise had certainly been fulfilled. His enemies could neither kill him nor crucify him, but God completed the span of his life and then caused him to die. 4:157-159